The Taking of Monterey

Normally I don’t volunteer for things as my job and family keep me plenty busy. But months earlier when asked if I would take part in a reenactment of Commodore Sloat’s 1846 landing in Monterey, California, I agreed. The original event happened on July 7, 1846 in what was then, Monterey, provincial capital of Alta California, Mexico. Commodore John Drake Sloat, commander of the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Squadron launched an amphibious assault on the town of Monterey from his flagship, the USS SAVANNAH. Some 250 U.S. Marines came ashore in long boats under the command of Captain William Mervine, Captain of the sloop of war CYANE.

Now legend has it that Captain Mervine had never seen real battle and was hoping for a one-way fight so that he could capture the enemy Mexican commander’s sword and earn some glory for himself. Much to his chagrin, the Marines’ text book amphibious landing was unopposed. Curious Californios (local inhabitants of Alta California at the time) came down to the shore to see what was going on. History tells us that there were only about 500 inhabitants living in Monterey in 1846, and that the Mexican army was nowhere near the Monterey peninsula. Back then Monterey was a sleepy outpost on the Pacific for the government of Mexico far to the south.

Nevertheless, Captain Mervine marched his forces to the customs house and ordered the Mexican flag lowered and the Stars and Stripes raised. A proclamation was then read claiming all of California for the United States of America henceforth. Monterey’s citizens were given U.S citizenship if they wanted it, and told that they could keep their elected officials, property, and titles; cheers went up all around.

Sloat’s landing at Monterey and the subsequent annexing of California to the United States fit neatly with the widely held American belief in what was then called Manifest Destiny. Manifest Destiny was the idea that the United States and its settlers were destined to expand across North America, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Many Americans at the time thought that this was sanctioned by God, and, thus, Manifest Destiny was widely accepted as a sacred endeavor for the United States.

Today I think some people currently living in California have been conditioned to believe that the U.S. Navy’s conquest of Monterey and Alta California was nothing but naked colonialism; a land grab; or something worse. History, however, has to be viewed in the proper context. One interesting thing I learned doing this reenactment was that a British flotilla had also sailed into Monterey a week after Commodore Sloat had proclaimed California part of the United States. Upon seeing the Stars and Stripes flying over the customs house, the British Commodore allegedly uttered some unprintable expletives and then angrily sailed away. As luck would have it, if Commodore Sloat had not taken California the British surely would have, and today the Golden State would likely be either part of Canada; a province of the former British Empire; or something else.

I am really glad that I had the chance to participate in this reenactment. I like to think, that like Captain Mervine and Commodore Sloat, I too would have been gracious and kind to the local inhabitants, granting them immediate U.S. citizenship and the same rights and privileges that we all enjoy today.

Our Navy’s sea going leaders had much more autonomy 174 years ago, however they also understood that they would be held accountable for their actions. That same spirit of independence and high standard of accountability is still part of the U.S. Navy’s culture today. Although play acting in an old uniform and borrowed hat, I believe that my sense of duty and pride of service were just as genuine as those who landed in Monterey so many years ago. The U.S. Navy is still a powerful, virtuous and noble institution: truly a global force for good. My participation in this reenactment rejuvenated my dedication to the Navy and the Nation, and made me feel proud about the 28 ½ years I have served on active duty.

Here below is a copy of the actual proclamation written by Commodore Sloat and read upon Captain Mervine’s order on July 7, 1846. I will let you be the judge of whether the inhabitants of Monterey got a good deal or a bad one.

TO THE INHABITANTS OF CALIFORNIA

The central government of Mexico having commenced hostilities against the United States of America, by invading its territory and attacking the troops of the United States stationed on the north side of the Rio Grande, and with a force of seven thousand men, under the command of General Arista, which army was totally destroyed and all their artillery, baggage, &c., captured on the 8th and 9th of May last, by a force of two thousand three hundred men, under the command of General Taylor, and the city of Matamoras taken and occupied by the forces of the United

States; and the two nations being actually at war by this transaction, I shall hoist the standard of the United States at Monterey immediately, and shall carry it throughout California.

I declare to the inhabitants of California, that although I come in arms with a powerful force, I do not come among them as an enemy to California; on the contrary, I come as their best friend - as henceforward California will be a portion of the United States, and its peaceable inhabitants will enjoy the same rights and privileges they now enjoy; together with the privileges of choosing their own magistrates and other officers for the administration of justice among themselves, and the same protection will be extended to them as to any other State in the Union. They will also enjoy a permanent government under which life, property and the constitutional right and lawful security to worship the Creator in the way most congenial to each one's sense of duty will be secured, which unfortunately the central government of Mexico cannot afford them, destroyed as her resources are by internal factions and corrupt officers, who create constant revolutions to promote their own interests and to oppress the people. Under the flag of the United States California will be free from all such troubles and expense, consequently the country will rapidly advance and improve both in agriculture and commerce; as of course the revenue laws will be the same in California as in all other parts of the United States, affording them all manufactures and produce of the United States, free of any duty, and all foreign goods at one quarter of the duty they now pay, a great increase in the value of real estate and the products of California may also be anticipated.

With the great interest and kind feelings I know the government and people of the United States possess towards the citizens of California, the country cannot but improve more rapidly than any other on the continent of America. Such of the inhabitants of California, whether natives or foreigners, as may not be disposed to accept the high privileges of citizenship, and to live peaceably under the government of the United States, will be allowed time to dispose of their property and to remove out of the country, if they choose, without any restriction, or remain in it, observing strict neutrality.

With full confidence in the honor and integrity of the inhabitants of the country, I invite the judges, alcaldes, and other civil officers, to retain their offices and to execute their functions as heretofore, that the public tranquility may not be disturbed; at least, until the government of the territory can be more definitely arranged.

All persons holding titles to real estate, or in quiet possession of lands under a color of right, shall have those titles and rights guarantied to them.

All churches, and the property they contain, in possession of the clergy of California, shall continue in the same rights and possessions they now enjoy.

All provisions and supplies of every kind, furnished by the inhabitants for the use of United States ships and soldiers, will be paid for at fair rates, and no private property will be taken for public use without just compensation at the moment.

JOHN D. SLOAT,

Commander-in-chief of the United States

naval forces in the Pacific ocean.

United States Flag-ship Savannah,

Harbor of Monterey, July 7, 1846.